Bag Swappin’ and Espresso-Martini Sippin’ at the Cut Café

To celebrate the release of our first stand-alone print issue and provide a place of comfort for those running between New York Fashion Week shows, we hosted our very first café pop-up at Bluestone Lane in Tribeca. On Sunday, the doors stayed open late, and subscribers came to celebrate our latest theme week, which starts on Thursday: personal style.

I’ve spent time at the café throughout the past three days and had multiple signature Cut Cold Brews, a brown sugar drink that is so addicting I’m worried I’ll crave it once it’s no longer available. But ahead of the event, I spotted some Absolut Vodka and Kahlúa Espresso, and I knew I was getting a special treat. As our editor-in-chief, Lindsay Peoples, stepped behind the bar to begin her career as a barista, guests entered and picked up an already-prepared espresso martini, before surveying the café and mingling.

While any chance to hang out in a café with espresso martinis and magazines sounds like a good time to me, the real stars of the show were the secondhand bags everyone brought along to swap and “It” girl Imani Randolph, who sat down with Lindsay to discuss her journey to perfecting personal style. She talked about her most-worn piece, a Comme des Garçons purse that she’s been using nonstop, and her advice of “if you don’t feel comfortable in it, change.” Randolph then brought her friend to the front and showed us how to style him, displaying how different bags could convey different meanings to his stylish outfit. She also shouted out her mom several times, whom she brought to the event and was driven to by Blacklane.

After the talk, there was a bag swap, where people could bring up to three bags to exchange for three others. There was a Ganni cheetah-print bag, a Puppets and Puppets cookie bag, and two mini Telfar bags. As guests began to browse the bags and decide what purse they would bring home, one woman approached me and my co-worker, showing off her bag. “That’s mine,” said Hanna, truly overjoyed. “She’s been through a lot. She’s great.” Once the woman stepped away, Hanna beamed: “That was fun to see my bag get another life.” I peered at the table to see if my purse had gotten scooped up, but it still sat there. There was still time. On the way out, guests grabbed a gift bag full of goodies including a Big Bud Press Perfect Pencil Pouch, an Away passport holder, a Charles & Keith curved shoulder bag, Rescue Spa minis, and discount codes to Cou Cou Intimates, Ookioh, Youswim, and JW PEI. The evening concluded with empty martini glasses scattered around and many great purses finding new homes. (Including mine.)